Region 1 school district budget passes on 7th try

FALLS VILLAGE >> The Region 1 School District budget for the 2013-2014 school year finally passed Thursday night, a full six months after it was first presented to the public in May. The budget suffered six defeats before its final passage Thursday by a margin of 725 yes to 652 no.

Final passage came just two weeks before the November elections that district critics had set as their benchmark for passage. They have contended that they wanted the budget defeats to continue until new members were voted onto the Region 1 School Board early next month.

This underscores the fact that dissatisfaction with the budget was not monetary, but rather a public comment on the administration of the district. Critics have voiced discontent with the administration of Central Office personnel and the seeming acquiescence of the Region 1 board. Among the topics of dissension has been the reportedly toxic relationship between Central Office administrators Patricia Chamberlain, superintendent of schools, and Diane Goncalves, assistant superintendent of schools, and the faculty and staff at the high school and elementary schools.

Chamberlain recently made an out-of-court settlement in a lawsuit brought by her former executive secretary Lucille Paige that alleged the administrator had harassed her and denied her first amendment rights. The district’s insurer and the district paid an aggregate $120,000 to settle the suit, and the district paid additional sums to cover her duties with substitute help and to pay her salary while she was on administrative leave.

A second lawsuit, brought this time by assistant superintendent Goncalves against Region 1 board member Gale Toensing, also for harassment and for invasion of privacy, is still pending.

There was little elation on either side of the issue following Thursday passage of the budget. Jonathan Moore, chairman of the Region 1 Board of Education, said the result came after the efforts of some very dedicated people. “What it portends for the future? I think there are lessons to be learned,” he said, “whether it’s me learning or the people who have opposed the budget.”

He noted that the next board meeting will be held one week before the municipal elections that will decide the configuration of the board for the next two years. “It’s awkward,” he said. “Do introduce new things … ?”

Ed Epstein, a longtime educator and former principal of the Kent Central School who has opposed the actions of the Region 1 Board and the Central Office, said Thursday that he was glad “for the sake of the region” that the budget had finally passed. “Let’s hope that the new board can do something constructive with the region. They certainly should not forget that the budget was defeated six times. This does not negate the fact that we need new leadership on the board and in the Central Office.”